Coin-controlled drink dispensing apparatus



June 21, 1932.

H. M. AUSTIN 1,864,175

COIN CONTROLLED DRINK DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 )2 HQ! 29 [E I 2 a v 4 III IIIIIIIIIIIII I I III/[I ll] l r P [1 I 25+ o 126 4 \A HGI.

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June 21, 1932. H M AUSTlN I 1,864,175

COIN CONTROLLED DRINK DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J YGH Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics HARRY MESSNER AUSTIN, OF CHESTNUT .HILL, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T CHARLES BLUM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA COIN-CONTROLLED DRINK. DISPENSING APPARATUS Application filed December 28, 1928. Serial No. 328,886.

This invention was designed for use in such apparatus of the generic form claimed in my copending application Serial No. 311,997 filed October 12, 1928 for Letters Patent of the United States, which is adapted to dispense a mixed drink, including water charged with carbonic acid gas under pressure, and a liquid flavoring material, such as a fruit syrup.

The apparatus shown. in that applicationcomprises such water dispensing mechanism including a plunger which is caused to-axially move upon deposit of a coin, and means are provided to dispense flavoring material, for mixture with dispensed water, from a holder containing but a single flavor; the dispensation of the flavoring material being efiected by the movement of said plunger.

The present invention relates particularly to means for selectively dispensing a plu- 30 rality of such flavoring materials from respective holders thereof; suchdispensation being effected by the movement of said plunger but the selection being dependent upon the position in which a handle exterior to the casing inclosing the apparatus is selectively set,

at the option of the coin depositor;

The form of my invention chosen for illustration includes but two diiferent flavor holdplaces a single dispensing mechanism, which is common to both of said holders in cooperative relation with one of them, to the exclusion of the other.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction, arrangement, and

piperation hereinafter more definitely speci- In said drawings;'Fig. I is a fragmentary I sectional view of a corner of the apparatus casing, showing a plan view of a convenient ers, and selective manipulationofsaid handle In said figures; l is the casing in which the coin controlled mixed drink dispensing mechanism is inclosed, and 2 indicates the upper portion of the cylinderin which the plunger 3 of the water dispensing mechanism is mounted to axially reciprocate, :to efiect such dispensation. The base 4: of the frame 5 of the syrup dispensing apparatus is adapted to be detachably rigidly connected with said cylinder 2, by the split annular clamp 7 so that the upper end of said plunger '3 is operatively connected with the cam 9 so that the latter is carried up and down by said plunger. However, said cam 9 is pivotally connected with said plunger by the swivel device hereinafter described, so that it may be turned into operative engagement with respective bell crank levers 10 of the two similar syrup dispensing plungers 11. Such pivotal connection is eifected by extending the reduced portion 13 of said plunger 3 thru the bushing 14am providing it with the collar 15 which is rigidly connected with said plunger 3 by the pin 16; said bushing 14 is thus mounted to turn freely on said plunger 7 3, but is detachably rigidly held in said cam pIyIthe tapered pin 17, as indicated in Fig.

In order to selectively turn said cam 9; I provide the same with the axial stem 19 having the keyway 2O engaging the key 21 in the miter gear 22 which is journaled in the split bearing plate 23, rigidly connected with the top of said. frame 5. Said miter gear is continually in mesh withthe miter gear 25 which is rigidly connected with the shaft 26 which extends horizontally in the bearing 27 which is stationary on said frame 5. Said shaft extends thru the collar 28, which retains it inproper position, and thence thru the panel '29 in said casing l, to the exterior of the latter, where it is provided with the handle 31. Said handle is adapted to be manually turned with respect to the index plate 32 which is rigidly connected with the exterior of said casing and which maybe labeled or otherwise marked to indicate the position to which said handlemust be turned to dispense the selected flavor.

It is to be understood that said levers 10 are fulcrumed on respective pins 34 in said frame 5 and each has an anti-friction roller 35 for cooperation with said cam 9, by which the lever of the selected flavor dispensing device is thrust into the position shown in Fig. III by the downward stroke of said cam, and against the stress of its spring 36 which extends between said lever and an abutment 37 which is a screw threaded plug adjustably mounted in said frame 5. Each of said levers 10 has anarm 39 having its cylindrical end 40 slidably fitted in a cross bar ll journaled in the side walls of the respective piston 11. Such pistons include cup leathers 43 and are mounted to reciprocate in respective chambers 44in said frame5 which are preferably lined with cylinders of glass 46' or other material which .will not be corroded by contact with the flavoring liquid.

Saidchambers are respectively covered by independently removable closures 48, each carrying two check valves-50 and 51 which are alternately operative, by the internal pressure in said chambers 44,110 control the inflow and outflow of the flavoring liquid. That is to say; each valve 50 controls the inflow from the respective flavoring supply pipe 53, which leads to a suitable reservoir in a refrigerator in the upper portion of said casing 1, and said valve is opened inwardly with respect to the chamber 44 by the partial vacuum created in said chamber by the downward motion of the piston 11 under pressure of the spring 36, when the lever 10 is relieved from engagement with the cam 9 by the upward movement of the latter. Such upward movement of the cam 9 is eflected by the upward movement of said plunger 3, and to the extent indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. III. Such downward motion of the piston 11 sucks a charge of the desired quantity of the selected flavoring material, into the respective chamber 44:; at the same time closing the check valve 51, whichopens outwardly with respect to said chamber 4A. Each valve 51 controls the respective conduit 55 leading, thru the coupling 56, to the mixing chamber .57 in which the flavoring material is mixed with water dispensed into. said mixing chamber thru the conduit 59, by the operation of the coin controlled mechanism of which said plunger 3 is a part. The flavor is thus washed from said chamber 57 at each dispensation. or

. As above contemplated; reverse, downward, movement of said plunger 3 and cam 9 from the last described position, to that shown in Fig. III, thrusts the plunger 11 to the upper limit of its stroke shown, closing the check valve 50 to prevent backflow of the charge of flavoring material, and opening the check valve 51 to permit the discharge of the flavoring material into the mixing chamber 57 aforesaid. i

The mixed drink dispensing apparatus, of

which only a portion is indicated in Fig. I, includes a paper cup dispensing device 61 adapted to drop single cups 62 from a magazine 63 upon movement of the lever handle 64: to the left in Fig. I by the automatic operation of the dispensing mechanism; and the mixture of carbonated water and flavoring material is discharged from said mixing chamber 57 thru the conduit 65 into the dispensed cup 62. However, it is to be understood that my multi le flavor dispensing mechanism aforesaid may include more than two chambers 'ete'with appurtenances thereofcommon to a single actuating mechanism, and that flavor dispensing mechanism of the character herein disclosed may be used in connection withapparatus other than that indicated in Fig. I and forming the subject matter of mycopending application aforesaid.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, arrangement, or method of operation herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein, without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In drink dispensing apparatus; the combination with a plurality of containers for flavoring material, each disposed in radial relation to a common axis; of a single actuating device at said axis; and manually operative means whereby said actuating device may be set in cooperative radial relation with any selected one of'said containers to dispense flavoring material from that one to the exclusion of the others, wherein the actuating mechanism includes an axially reciprocatory plunger, a cam carried by said plunger and connected therewith by means permitting selective rotation of said cam; and means for effecting such selective rotation of said cam including a cylindrical stem on said cam, in coaxial relation with said plunger, and a gear having a keyed connection with said stem permitting axial movemen of said stem thru said gear; whereby said gear may be turned to' turn said cam regardless of the axial position of said stem with respect to said gear. 7

2. In drink dispensing apparatus; the combination with a plurality of containers for flavoring material, each disposed in radial relation to a common axis; of a single actuating device at said axis ;1 and manually operative means whereby said actuating device may be set in cooperative radial relation with any selected one of said containers to dispense flavoring. material from that one to the exclusion of the others; whereineach container is provided with a reciprocatory piston, a bell crank lever 'operatively c onneeted at one" end with said piston, and a. spring operatively connected with the other its end of said lever adapted to continually stress said lever and piston toward one extremity of their range of movement, and said actuating mechanism includes means adapted to shift the lever of the selected one of said containers in opposition to its spring.

3. In drink dispensing apparatus; the combination .with a container for flavoring material; of a piston mounted to reciprocate in said container; and a lever operatively connected with said piston; whereby said iston may be reciprocated by oscillation 0 said lever; including a reciprocatory cam arranged to operate said lever.

4. In drink dispensing apparatus; the combination with a container for flavoring material; of a piston mounted to reciprocate in said container; and a lever operatively connected with said piston; whereby said piston may be reciprocated by oscillation of said lever; including a rotary cam arranged to operate said lever.

5. In drink dispensing apparatus; the combination with a container for flavoring ma terial; of a piston mounted to reciprocate in said container; and a lever operatively connected with said piston; whereby said piston may be reciprocated by oscillation of said lever; including a rotary and axially reciprocatory cam arranged to operate said lever.

6. In drink dispensing apparatus; the combination with a container for flavoring material; of a piston mounted to reciprocate in said container; and a lever operatively connected with said piston; whereby said piston may be reciprocated by oscillation of said lever; including a cam and a plunger adapted to reciprocate to present said cam in operative relation with said lever and to withdraw said cam to idle position.

7 In drink dispensing apparatus; the combination with a container for flavoring material; of a piston mounted to reciprocate in said container; and a lever operatively connected with said piston; whereby said piston may be reciprocated by oscillation of said lever; including a plunger carrying means arranged to operate said lever.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this nineteenth day of December, 1928.

HARRY MESSNER AUSTIN. 

